Transplant mum family ‘thanks’

Ten year old Harry Wright has launched a fundraising campaign to help his mum, Sarah, who is urgently in need of a lung transplant. Harry is pictured with his mum, his grandad (Steve Gazzard), and siblings Billy and Marnie. Picture by Alex Walton. Ref exe 8677-31-12AW

Archant

The father of an Exmouth mum who needs a lung transplant has thanked well-wishers who ‘kept the family going’ after she was admitted to intensive care last week.

Two years ago Sarah Wright, 36, of Featherbed Lane, was diagnosed with fatal lung condition IPF and she now needs a double-lung transplant.

Since then her 10-year-old son Harry has run a fundraising campaign for the British Lung Foundation, while her dad Steve Gazzard has written to the Prime Minister to urge a change in the law for organ donors.

But last week Sarah was rushed to Wonford after her condition deteriorated – by Saturday her condition stabilised and she is now being looked after at the Harfield Hospital in Middlesex.

Steve said: “She is now being looked after in a specialist hospital. We have been inundated with calls of support and well wishers have been stopping me in the street. The public, the council, the churches, businesses have all been very supportive. All the messages that we have received gives Sarah and the family the strength to keep on fighting, thank you.”

He praised the staff at both hospitals and added: “I want to thank them; when the chips were down they were fantastic.”

Steve, a town councillor, has been campaigning to encourage more people to sign onto the NHS donor register. And he has written to Prime Minister David Cameron asking for a change in the organ donor law. He is asking for the change to the law so people are automatically registered.